14 Free Date Ideas That Won't Make You Feel Broke AF

Sure, planning the perfect date night with your boo can be super romantic—until you check your bank account and realize you dropped your whole paycheck on a piece of meat the size of your thumb. In other words? Date night can get expensive.

TL;DR: Dropping hella Benjamins to impress your date with extravagant prix fixe dinners and martini happy hours can burn holes in your wallets. But TBH, they can get kinda stale really fast.

Luckily, a fun romantic activity with your love doesn’t have to cost a dime. Whether you’re still in the honeymoon phase with a new flame, or looking to keep things exciting in your LTR, try out every one of these fun (and free) date ideas.

1. Take a hike

Hit the trails! Planning a day hike lets you enjoy nature and each other’s company at the same time. Pack waters, healthy snacks, and layers in case the weather shifts. You’ll get a good workout in, plus gorgeous photo opps for the 'gram at the top of the mountain.

2. Get creative together

Next date night, get hands-on in a different way (wink, wink) and craft something together. A few ideas: relieve stress with adult coloring books, repaint the bedroom dresser, bake a cake, make a date jar (for future ideas!), or attempt a Pinterest craft and photo document the “Pinterest Fail” for a good laugh.

3. Set up a backyard campsite

Public campsites usually have fees, but the one in your backyard is private and free! Plus, a sleepover under the stars is as romantic as it gets. Channel your inner Girl/Boy Scout and pitch a tent filled with a mound of pillows and blankets, light a campfire, roast marshmallows, sip summer shandy, tell ghost stories—then turn in for the night and check “sex in a tent” off your bucket list.

4. Downward Dog together at community yoga

Most yoga studios offer complimentary classes taught by teacher leaders in training. Set up your mats side-by-side, channel each other’s positive energy (you’ll need it for the Birds of Paradise pose), and torch some calories while you’re at it.

5. Plan a day trip

If your car is already gassed up, set out on a day trip to a place you’ve never been together and just walk around. It could be a cute town upstate filled with art galleries, a beach with a surfside tiki bar, or a tulip farm for totes adorbs Instagram selfies. Plus, half the fun is getting there, so begin the journey with an iced coffee stop and a solid driving playlist.

6. Enjoy an outdoor movie screening

Once the weather gets warm, find a park that has set up a big outdoor movie screen for the season and enjoy a free alfresco flick. Pack a picnic, BYOLC (Bring Your Own Law Chair), and enjoy the fact you’re not in a stuffy movie theater paying $10 for a pack of Sour Patch Kids.

7. Volunteer together

Nothing is sexier than giving back in good company! Search for upcoming events in your community that are looking for volunteers and offer your time to a cause you both care about. Whether it’s a beach clean-up, a pet adoption event, or working at a food drive, you’ll feel fulfilled while making awesome memories together.

8. Hang by the pool

The best part about summer? Relaxing outside and catching some rays is still considered a productive activity! Break out that haute new bikini, set up two recliner chairs by the pool, put that margarita mixer to work, and just chillax together—that is, after you rub SPF all over each other. ;)

9. Cook a meal together

Why spend money on dinner when you can kiss the cook and have fun being each other’s sous chefs? Take inventory of the ingredients you already have on-hand, then search Google to find a tasty recipe that you can whip up together at no cost. Nothing tastes better than home cooking—and bonus points if your final dishes pair well with that fancy bottle of Pinot Noir you’ve been saving.

10. Attend a literary reading

Lots of bookstores, libraries, and coffee shops host readings and poetry nights featuring famous authors or up-and-coming writers. More often than not, admission is free (and sometimes there is coffee and wine!). Get inspired, have fun, and immerse yourselves in the literary community.

11. Challenge each other in a game night

Ignite a little friendly competition with a game night for two. Take turns picking what game you play next. Start with something fun and nostalgic (Mouse Trap, Jenga, or Mario Kart), move on to something strategic (chess, checkers, or Othello), and end with something sexy (Truth or Dare, or Strip Poker!).

12. Sample your way through a farmer’s market

Bring your appetite, because is there anything more delicious than meandering through a farmer’s market and taste-testing all of the fresh cheeses, homemade salsas, and organic produce? It’s also a great way to meet and support people in your local community.

13. Create a spa at home

Trips to the spa cost a pretty penny, but a DIY oasis in the comfort of your home can feel just as indulgent. Set the ambiance by lighting candles and queuing up a soothing playlist. Then, spend the evening pampering each other with avocado face masks, cucumber slices on your eyes, and massages with aromatherapy oil (pick can up a few pro techniques from Youtube). Finish it off with a soak in the bath together.

14. Arrange for a pet-sitting staycation

Call up your friend with the cuddly cat or your aunt with the Bernese mountain dog and urge them to get the heck out of dodge for the weekend. You and bae can offer to stay at their place and pet-sit their furry friends for free—well, in exchange for a romantic evening in a new house with a porch swing to watch the sunset, Fido at your feet, a rain shower in the master bathroom... In the end, everyone gets a vacation.